Latest / Besties Do Verticals / Episode 24 - Break Me, Princess

Transcript

Episode 24 - Break Me, Princess · Besties Do Verticals

• Aleta: Hello and welcome to Besties Do Verticals with your besties, Lucy and Alita. Hi, I'm Alita. Lucy: And I'm Lucy. Hey besties. We're so excited this week. We are going to be recapping Break Me Princess, which released on My Drama. But before we get into that, I figured I would ask how you're doing this week, Alita. Aleta: Doing okay, yeah. Pretty quiet week. Just doing notes for this all weekend. Lucy: Nothing too exciting. I want to talk about some exciting things though. probably the fandom already knows about, but we've been getting a lot of BTS the last five days for a mystery vertical on candy jar. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: It's not a mystery to me though, Caroline, and I think it's Danny Dupree. She's the producer. So the way Candy Jar works, guys, I hope I don't get yelled at. is our understanding is they have candy jar which are the verticals then they have a sister like app called galatea and i think we've talked about that with next Aleta: Mm. Lucy: door so they adapt books into their verticals from galatea I've learned all sorts of interesting information from certain people about how Galatea works and how you get on there and I don't quite understand what gets adapted, but there's only so many BLs on Galatea, guys, so I I figured out and read exactly what Felix and Skye are going to be in, and I'm Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: really excited. So I think it's going to be a really good one. I've been very thrilled. I think whoever chose to cast Felix and Sky together You need a damn award. Okay? Like Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: when the vertical drama love awards comes around, there should be best casting director award, and it needs to just go to you. I'm just calling it now. Just FYI. I haven't even seen the vertical. And I just know Felix and Sky are going to kill it. And they've been sharing in comments that they're really pleased with it. So that's gotten the fandom really excited. it sounds like There's some shenanigans afoot as well on other Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: apps with some more BL. We're really excited. So overall I think that's what we've been kind of doing this week is you know, we got to talk to Markin Corvallo just a few days ago. Yes. Aleta: True. Yeah, what am I talking about? Nothing happened. Lucy: Right? That's true. He was a delight. I'm still on a like I'm I've been on a high from the last several interviews, I think, right? Like Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: I'm still on a high from Markin, but I'm still on like a high from like JP. You know? JP was just such a delight. We've had we've been so lucky. There's just been Greg Aleta: Greg, we've had so many they've all been lovely, let's face it. Lucy: Everyone's been lovely. Yeah. So it's just been a it's been interesting in the world of Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: the fandom and the queer verticals, but we're here for it, guys. Apps, please just keep giving us good shit. Come on. Come on. I'm gonna jump Yes Aleta: Employ our boys. Lucy: my drama specifically. I love who you choose, but I need you to bring on Evan Gambardella, Greg Duffy, Andrew Tong, Skye Kawaii. And Declan Clifford. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Add them to your list. If you are happy with it in his cold eyes numbers and like some of the bigger BLs that you've put out, just you wait when you Aleta: Ha ha Lucy: get one of those guys on there. It will explode. Anyway, those are my shameless plugs Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: for some of the boys that we love. So Break Me Princess, recap back to that. I wanted to give some interesting commentary before we got into it. I just watched this for the first time like a week ago. a bunch of girl loves on My Drama released all at once, basically. This was around when Stableboy and Waterboy 2 released, I think. So they got lost. For me, because I was pretty hyper focused on everything with Sky and Declan. and I didn't get around to all of the girl loves in my drama. Like I had watched The Summer in Between, I watched Bloodlust. But I didn't jump on Break Me Princess right away because I had a close friend talk about how much she struggled with the vertical. Like this vertical was just not for her. And she had told me about some of the scenes in there that I like, ooh, I don't know if I'm gonna like that. So I just did not prioritize it. And I you know, watched other things and tried to catch up and recap on other things. Well, I had noticed on some downtime about a week ago that this vertical has been on like my drama's top eight for two Aleta: Mm. Lucy: months since it released. I'm pretty sure it released like two months ago. And it was number one for a very long time. Like I I'm guessing a month I could be wrong. You can let us know if I'm wrong. But I'm pretty sure it like a month it was at number one, which is really unusual for a girl love. So it just kind of clicked. Like, why am I not watching that? Like, you know, my friends said that they hated it, but it's been number one for a reason, so I need to figure it out. I fell in love. Right now, just let it be known to all of our listeners that this is now my favorite girl love. Yes, over Tomboy, over Nare, Aleta: Ooh. Lucy: currently. I know. But Hopefully Nara will be filming More Girl Loves. So, you know, we'll see if this gets unseated. But I just wanted to give Aleta: Mm. Lucy: like a little bit of lore there. I mean, there's some more we can get into at the end of the podcast, but I really like this one, guys. And I'm very grateful to Alita for doing the notes on this one and recapping it. yeah, I'm I'm excited for this one. Anyway, here we go. IMDB summary. A scholarship girl challenges a royal princess, but their battle for power becomes a forbidden love. Neither can escape. And then like I said earlier, it was released on my drama. Unfortunately, we cannot find the director or the writer. Womp womp. So if anyone knows, we'd love we'd love to know their names. We Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: try, we dig, but it just didn't work out this time. Aleta: The vertical opens with the scholarship student Lily Stone, played by Paulina Nestorova, arriving at the academy. She is immediately bullied by a group of mean girls. She tries to sit, but they tell her that that's Princess Aurora's seat. Suddenly the music changes, and Princess Aurora appears at the back of the classroom. Something funny here, which I I mean it's the same thing in a lot of verticals. Everyone is in some variation of a school uniform, but like none of them are uniforms that you would ever get away with in any private school. Mini skirts and stilettos and yeah. But Princess Aurora is in like a pale blue Chanel style s suit, so she's fancier than the rest of them. Lucy: Very fancy, said Aleta: She is played by Natalia Telly. Lucy: And then this is another intro scene to love, in my opinion. Princess Aurora, or as we learn later, she's called Rory. She comes in with a banger. The song. The song. It's a banger. Aleta: Can't remember what the song was. Lucy: I never understand the Aleta: Hm. Lucy: titles. Aleta: So the mean girls force Lily to kneel so that Aurora can knight her with her heels. But Lily refuses to swear to know her place under Princess Aurora's heel. As they all chant, swear, swear, swear, we see a Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: boy who is not taking part, but watching intently with a speculative expression. Lucy: Mm. Aleta: Aurora snaps her fingers for silence, and they all tell Lily to swear, Your Highness, I swear to obey. But Lily refuses, saying, I swear this is the first and last time you'll ever see me on my knees. Good for her. And throws Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: a glass of water in Aurora's face and holds the empty glass over her head, saying, It looks like your crown just got washed away. Meanwhile, the boy, who it turns out is the crown prince Dominic Crownwell, admires Lily's guts. He steps in offering his seat and stops Aurora from retaliating just as the teacher comes in. The teacher announces that Lily is a scholarship student, an orphan, and comes from a convent school. Lucy: That part made me go, What? Like why are they announcing she's an orphan? Is that a thing they do in other countries? Like 'cause damn. They're just like you know, and like we don't go around going, Okay, this is so and so, she has two parents. You know what I mean? Like Like why are Aleta: I know totally. Lucy: we just d I don't know. Anyway, I know Aleta: I don't think I think that is a vertical thing, not not an another country thing. Lucy: It is. It's definitely a vertical thing. It is definitely a K drama thing because they could really just do a voiceover. You know, I'm Aleta: Mm. Lucy: a lo I'm a I'm an orphan who lives in a nunnery, you know what I mean? Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: So but yeah. Aleta: I guess it kind of sets up everybody else knowing because then Aurora calls her nun all the way through. So I dunno. But anyway. Lucy: There, there. Aleta: Dominic is played by Igor Kozlov. Outside Lily is about to thank Dominic for stepping in, but he walks away. Lucy: On purpose too, we had like this little Aleta: Mm. Lucy: smirk. Aleta: Yes, well. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: We will learn more about him. In the next scene, Lily is sitting in a window writing in her journal. Aurora's minions grab her and drag her off to a classroom, where Aurora proceeds to auction off Lily's virginity. Ugh. Lucy: Blah. Aleta: They've photoshopped Lily onto a woman in lingerie. As the bidding starts, Aurora tells her that all she had to do was obey her, and all of this could have been avoided. Boys are bidding, and Dominic comes in and bids $5,000, but says that Aurora has to leave her alone for good. The auction is interrupted by the principal I think they call her a rector actually Margaret Crownwell played by Xenia Komkova, my apologize apologies if I mispronounce, who orders Lily and Aurora to her office. And Lucy, before we get into this scene, I would just like to say verticals are fairly Full of unlikely and ridiculous scenarios. We're used to it. It's par for the course. But the principal of the school is the queen. It's stretching my disbelief too far. Lucy: It is pretty bad. I cannot lie. Like why would she be doing any of that? Aleta: The Queen says that they will both be expelled. I mean unless Lily Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: joins the cheerleading squad and they win the championship. Lucy: That's kind of like wrestling with love. But I did hear from a fan that apparently this is almost scene for scene, Know Your Majesty, which is a BL. And I have seen Know Your Majesty, but it was it was kind of a long time ago. It was probably like eight months ago. And I don't remember the plot too much because it wasn't like one of my tops, but I love Eugene in it. He was one of the leads. so I want to give it another chance. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: But so I didn't think of No Your Majesty, but I did think of Wrestling with Love. So all of these are my dramas. So this must be kind of a my drama thing they love doing. Kinda like real short with all of their boy universes and Aidens and Cadens and Aleta: Hmm. Lucy: Wills and Donovan's and all this stuff. Aleta: The Queen dismisses Lily and tells Aurora that her freedom is coming to an end. Back in the dorm, Aurora walks in on Lily and tells her if she's going to be one of her bitches, she has to look the part. Sheavy eye Lucy: Just love the way you said that. Aleta: rolls. Lucy: I liked it though, I just I like you saying if she's gonna be one of her bitches, it just sounds great coming from you. Aleta: I mean, that's what they say. I'm just Lucy: That is what they say. Aleta: Yeah. She Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: gives her clothes and high heels to wear, and they almost kiss, but Lily says, I'm not like that. Aurora immediately backtracks, telling her that she wouldn't want to dirty herself on someone like her. Note here that when Sarah bursts in with the rack of clothes, she is visibly upset by their closeness. Lucy: and I thought in this scene that Rory, aka Aurora, she was so sexy here, like my God. So I got to watch this for a second time tonight, right before we recorded. And that's when I realized why I might like her so much. She is the female version of Sky, the Rory character is. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: She is so sassy. And there is this scene after Lily gets like changed into different clothes. She asks Rory to turn around, which Rory does, but I think she peeks. Rory Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: grabs Lily's ponytail like firmly, very dominating, like. She removes the hair tie and tells her that she has to wear her hair down moving forward. And there. Like, that was like the thing, Alita. That moment for me, it seems so simple. And and I won't go into details what that did, Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: because that's a podcast you know, we're on the podcast here, right guys? But it was hot, okay? And I was just like, when she commanded her to wear her hair down, I was just like, fucking yes, ma'am. Yes. Yes, fucking ma'am. I want to say something so bad right now. But I shall not but Aleta: There's a difference between us 'cause if you try to boss me around, hell no. Lucy: I So it's so okay. my god, what do I want to say here? Okay, I'm just gonna say it. I'm just gonna say it. And I know we've talked about this. I know. I am Aleta: Buckle up, basties. Lucy: a very I know. my god. Okay, okay, yeah. does anyone watch Ali Wong? Okay, she she she did a set, and and I'm gonna say it two ways. She did a set where she talks about how she spends her entire life always being a girl boss and always taking control and she's like in the bedroom no I want you to tell me what the fuck to do like she does not want to think control anything in the bedroom and I was just like I've never related to something so much we'll see if this makes the cut. But we just learned so much about Lucy. Every fucking podcast. Aleta: So classy. Lucy: So classy. I'm not classy. Aleta: And you called me something on a previous podcast. And anyway. Lucy: What did I call you? What did I say to you, girl? No, let's do it. What was it? Aleta: We're not put no, 'cause you'll put it in the podcast. Lucy: My god, okay, Besties, what did I call her? Aleta: Everyone is surprised when Lily shows up. Aurora is furious that she's wearing tights with a short skirt. She shoves her out of the room and tears her tights and then forces her to remove them. As she tries to leave as Lily tries to leave, Aurora knocks her down and falls on top of her. Kind of classic vertical, but the Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: moment is interrupted by Dominic, who says that Aurora is used to masking her Weakness by humiliating others. Lucy: The ripping of her tights, I Aleta: Hmm. Lucy: know this is darker romance, but I thought it was hot, like her hand going up her thigh. I was like, ooh, that made Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: me feel things. So I I mean I know it's like not nice to rip other girls' tights, but Aleta: In the grand scheme of things it's not. Lucy: In the in the grand scheme of things, I I don't think Lily minded as much as she, you know, was letting on. Aleta: Some real tension here as the siblings face off over Lily. Dominic asks whether Aurora has a crush on Lily. Too bad she's not like that, so don't waste your time. And Rory says Lucy: Let's ask her. Lily, my brother says you're not into girls. What do you say? Aleta: And Lily replies, Of course I'm not into girls. I'm not into anyone Lucy: Womp womp. Aleta: Pure. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: Dominic tells Aurora that they are heirs to the throne, and her behavior was unacceptable. She counters Lucy: You're the air. I'm just your shadow, and in the shadows I can do whatever I want with whoever I want. Aleta: As Aurora walks away, Dominic says that he will put her in her place. As Lily runs away, we get a peek at her internal monologue where she admits that Dominic is exactly the kind of boy that girls dream about. So why is Aurora the only person that she can think about? Later at cheer practice, Lily is trying to put on her tights again, and Aurora stops her. Sarah has put glass into Lily's shoes. Don't like Sarah. Aurora is furious and tells Sarah to remember that Lily is hers, and if she tries something like that again, she will rip her hair out. Lily says that she doesn't need her help, and that they're stuck with each other. As without her team is incomplete and can't win the championship. Aurora dismisses them all as she takes Lily's hand. Sarah is devastated and says seriously, that girl thinks she's going to steal my princess from me? And threatens to destroy her. Lucy: The glass and the shoes, super fucked up. I did also like it when Rory threatened Sarah, honestly, like standing up for her girl, that was hot. Aleta: See, and I like Lily standing up for herself. Lucy: I mean I like that too, but I am super into Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: dominating women, I guess. When when Aleta: Apparently. Lucy: when they bust out that shit and they're just like, No, you ain't touching you ain't touching what's mine, I'm like Yes. Aleta: That's very my there's that vertical trope. How dare you touch what's mine? Lucy: I know, and I like it in the B L's too. So it's Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: it's it's a win win for me. Aleta: In the gym, Aurora's kind of putting the moves on Lily as she teaches her the routines. Very sensual montage here. Lucy: This scene was a favorite of mine. Watching this back, I think I know why it's my favorite girl love. It's the actress playing Rory and her chemistry with Lily. So she may be a super femme princess on the outside, but her face and mannerisms and domineering personality, it fits into my mask and Butch desires. So to me, she's perfect. Like I am so into her. Yes, there's the female sky thing that kind of. came up for me as well, that definitely helps. But I I was worried when I was writing my side of the notes because I the whole thing is just gushing about this actress and this character. So I don't know how this is all gonna come out and sound besties. I apologize if I sound creepy, but holy hell, like this actress to me, like, ugh, like if she walked through my door right now, I would just be like Hi. Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: I would just I mean it's I would hope I'd say hi. Aleta: You'd say hi. Lucy: She's just panty dropping to me. I like my gosh. Like you know, and I felt this Aleta: See, that's really it's really interesting 'cause I when I watched this I was like, Wha why does Mel like this? 'Cause it's fem femme again to me, but you know. Lucy: Isn't that amazing? Because I have been very upset with femme femme. It's all femme Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: femme except for Nare, which is why Tomboy jumped so quickly to the top of my list. For girl loves, it was because of Nare, because I was getting Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: a mask femme. So I remember when I watched it, I reached out to my friend who hated it, and I was like. I don't know what happened, but this is my favorite girl love. And my god, it's femme femme. And I am so shocked. And then I was like, maybe it was a fluke. So when I rewatched it a second time tonight, I was like, no, I am still so obsessed with this. but that's kind of where my head's at is that this particular actress, like I said earlier, like she may look so feminine in this, but she but I can s when they close up on her face, I'm like, No. No. She's got traits that are so attractive to me. she is not as feminine looking as the actress playing Lily, who is very soft and Aleta: Mm, true. Lucy: yeah, and and and and the actress playing Rory is got much more hard lines. But her eyes, my god, her eyes are so large and expressive, and I I'm I've got a soft spot for large large eyes. Hmm. Which man Aleta: Hm. Lucy: do we know that's got these big ass eyes that I love and adore? Starts with an E. I love those fucking eyes. Anyway, so I guess it doesn't surprise me that I'm super into her. Alita's laughing, but it's true. Aleta: It's all good. Lucy: It's all good. Aleta: Afterwards in the locker room, Lily is totally checking Aurora out. When Aurora leaves to get water, Lily takes her glass and presses her lipstick print to her own mouth. Suddenly the door opens and Dominic bursts in, startling Lily. He says that he can protect Lily, and that she's so beautiful. Aurora returns just then and throws the water on her brother. She's clearly very jealous. Lily tells Dominic that she's sure Aurora can be normal, but for some reason chooses not to be. Lucy: Well we find out later why. Aleta: In the next scene, it's Aurora's birthday party. There's a DJ and the drinks are flowing. When Lily shows up with a scroll of paper tied with a ribbon, Aurora announces Lucy: Guys, my toy actually showed up. Aleta: When Lily protests that she's not an object, Aurora says that she's the most fascinating person there, and everyone should know that. And she unzips Lily's dress and pulls it down, leaving her in her underwear. Lucy: Mm. Aleta: Lily slaps Aurora and tells her that in trying to humiliate Lily she only humiliated herself. Lucy: I can't believe Rory took her dress off like that, like so not fucking okay. Mean girl petty shit. And honestly the slap she got in return was so fucking well deserved and satisfying. Like I was like, I'd have done the same thing. Aleta: Hahaha Aurora asks whether kissing Dominic is what has made Lily this bold. She tells her to apologize for the kiss and for slapping her. Lily says, I'll apologize for something else. I'm sorry you're so obsessed with me. Otherwise, why won't you leave me alone? And no, I didn't kiss your brother. I have not kissed anyone ever, Aurora. Lucy: Then Rory's eyes here when she is yelling at Lily. honestly, I think that's one of the first scenes, like her eyes were so beautiful. Like as Alita like looks through these notes, because she hasn't read mine yet, she just sees, Rory's so beautiful. her eyes. These beautiful moss green eyes. I just I just love Rory here. Guys, I'm not gonna lie, this is what you're gonna hear for the entire episode is some form of gushing of this actress. But Aleta: We all like some pretty eyes. Lucy: She's fucking beautiful. Like my god. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: Anyway. Aleta: Dominic comes to the rescue, wrapping Lily in his jacket. When Aurora asks what he's doing there, he tells her that the day is not all about her. They're twins. You've never been and never will be the center of attention. He says that she will regret it if he sees her anywhere near his girlfriend again. Lily is stunned to hear herself called his girlfriend. Aurora is hurt. And Sarah is just as smug as can be. Lucy: I wanted to say with Sarah, I didn't put it anywhere in the notes, but I know that's not a fun character, but the actress is beautiful. Aleta: Hm. Lucy: She is a ginger, she also has beautiful expressive eyes, and she makes lovely expressions. Aleta: I just realized we didn't give her name. She is Alina Makarova. Lucy: She a beautiful name for a beautiful lady. So if you're listening, you're beautiful too. It's just a it's just a girl love full of beautiful ladies. Aleta: I mean, so surprising that a vertical would have hot people in it. Lucy: I know, but these ladies in particular are just hit they're just it's a home run for me, Alita, okay? Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: Like I I just the whole time I was like, my gosh, like I guess if I'm into femme ladies, Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: they are my types right now. Aleta: Dominic tells Lily that this is the only way to get Aurora off her back. And Sarah, so helpful, starts a chant Kiss, kiss, Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: kiss. But Aurora says to herself that no one else is getting Lily's first kiss, and pushes Dominic away and plants a kiss right on Lily's mouth. And they totally make it. Dominic strides off angry, and Lily is questioning whether she likes it. You stole my first kiss. Very good. Lucy: Rory is so petulant about her possibly not getting Lily's first kiss here. Total diva. And honestly I'm so here for it. I loved it. I love that she wouldn't let her brother have it, and I know it's not okay to like just go up and grab someone and kiss them, but I personally couldn't help how she just dived in there and took it. It's a vertical, you know? This is some of the things that they do and I'm not gonna cry about this one. Aleta: Not as bad as some of the other things. Lucy: Yeah, I'm not gonna complain. This this was okay for me. Aleta: You you know, well, anyway, I'm gonna get sidetracked by other Lucy: Ha ha. Aleta: verticals, but I was thinking about in Princess First Love when when Nicholas just grabs Lucas and kisses him in the lake and then he's like I'm sorry and it was like it was so nice that it for once somebody was not being you know, he he gave in to his his desire to kiss Lucas but he immediately realize that he shouldn't do it that way. Which is nice. Lucy: So one of the reasons I really liked objection, I'm not gay too, is Aleta: Hm. Lucy: Ramiro's character in there. there's some really good scenes about consent and and being horrified about thrusting yourself on somebody because you feel passion, right? Aleta: Mm. Lucy: And you know, th that was an older vertical, so I'm surprised Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: that it was put in there, but a lot of us appreciated it, you know. Aleta: Aurora admits to herself that she wanted to control Lily, but instead she lost control of herself. And the worst part is she's starting to like it. Sarah is again clearly devastated by Aurora kissing Lily. The next day Aurora is in the principal's office and the queen can't get over that is showing her the video of her kissing Lily. She says that she doesn't care if Aurora ruins herself, but don't bring disgrace to the crown. More crappy parents. Aurora tells her that since her father died, the crown is already rotten. Public trust is down to seven percent. We see now that there's a man in the room with them. It's the Minister of Finance, Clive Morris, played by Sergei Denga. And the Queen informs Aurora that she's going to marry him. Lucy: Ew. Aleta: Yeah. The Queen tells Aurora that it's an honor for her to marry him. But Aurora says it's an honor for her mother. And then Mommy Dearest slaps Aurora. Clive tells her that she needs to be a good girl. Which ick as without Parliament's support the monarchy won't last. Lucy: There is a line in here where she protests to her mother. She says he's three times my age. So this character, like Aurora is clearly supposed to be like 18. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: And this man looks in his late 40s or early fifties, like he is definitely like three times her age. Aleta: In the next part, Lily is studying when a man comes in and tells her that she has to come with him. There's no self preservation in verticals. She doesn't even ask him for any credentials, she just goes off with this strange guy. Like come on, girl. Lucy: Right. Aleta: At the palace, the Queen is toasting to the future king Dominic, and their alliance with mister Morris. Aurora stands up and toasts. Lucy: To my brother, who only had to be born with the right parts between his legs to get the throne. What an impressive achievement, right? Aleta: The Queen apologizes for Aurora's behavior and in one of the creepiest moments I think I've seen in a vertical, tells him that there are ways that Aurora can satisfy him as a wife. Lucy: Vomit vomit vomit eel. Aleta: Imagine a mother I just no no. Lucy: No. Aleta: Meanwhile, Dominic has invited Lily to the dinner. The Queen tells him that he is even smarter than she thought. Dominic tells Lily not to be afraid, and the Queen tells her that it's a perfect chance to get to know her better. And Dominic follows that up with a surprise proposal at the dinner table. Aurora is furious and says that Lily doesn't want Dominic and tells her to say something. The Queen says that every girl in the kingdom wants Dominic, and the marriage would make Lily a princess. Isn't that what a little orphan dreams of? Lucy: Ugh, you know, and what's funny is actually what upset me the most in this scene was Morris putting his hand on Rory's leg under the table. Like when they were like trying to say all that terrible crap, like as a group. It made me want to puke. Aleta: Yeah. But she takes her she takes her knife and like he's like, Lucy: Kind of does a little threat. Aleta: maybe I d maybe I don't wanna be doing this. I like that. Lucy: Yeah, I like that too. It was a butter knife to be fair. And I think she stood up after. But yeah, I I like that, yeah. Aleta: I know, but I mean it's you still wouldn't be happy to be stabbed in the hand with a butter knife. Lucy: No, true, true. Aleta: Aurora storms off, and Lily pulls off the ring, saying that it isn't right. What about love? The Queen cackles, and Dominic tells her, Love will come. Women always fall for me. All of them, no exceptions. And he tries to kiss her, but she pushes him away and runs off. In the next scene, we see Lily in the bath, scrubbing off Dominic's kiss. She admits to herself that it's Aurora that she wants to kiss. She lies down, submerging herself in the tub, and in comes Aurora, who holds her under for Lucy: I know, I'm like, what? Mm. Aleta: She comes up spluttering for breath, and Aurora tells her if she wanted to kill her, she would be dead. As she goes to leave, Lily grabs her wrist and pulls her down into the tub. Lily asks Aurora if she still feels that she's in control, and Aurora replies. Lucy: Control is an interesting thing. Let me show you what I do have control over. Aleta: And she runs her hand down and Lily lays back. Lucy: See, see. Aleta: But when she tells Aurora please don't stop, the princess pulls away, saying Lucy: I decide how much pleasure you get. Aleta: Lily asks her when she will realize that the world doesn't revolve around her. Aurora tells her that after she marries Dominic, she will see how this world works, and she will stop thinking that Aurora is a monster, because she will become one too. And then Lily tells her that she turned Dominic down. Lucy: So this was one of the hottest girl love scenes in any girl love vertical ever to me. Period. Mic drop. It was so hot, Alita. my god, it was so hot. Like, I didn't like the holding her under part, Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: but I thought it was so sensual. Like, it makes me think of like the summer in between. I loved the summer in between, but the sensual parts of it were so tiny and subtle, and we only got a little bit at the end, and then they faded to black. Like this one, they did push some boundaries. and I loved it. And the actress playing Lily, like girl, good job. You know what I mean? 'Cause that's what fed so much of it was her two. You know, her responses. Aleta: They're still not going as far as the BL's, but Lucy: They're not, but this is a step in the right direction. Aleta: The next day is the championship, and Lily discovers that her shoes are coming apart. Sarah looks incredibly self satisfied until Aurora gives Lily a brand new pair of shoes and goes down on her knees to put them on her. Aurora admits to herself that she was wrong to believe that Lily would marry her brother for money. But out loud she says that Lucy: Don't thank me none. I just don't want to lose because of your worn out sneakers. Aleta: Sarah is furious again. Lucy: Again, when Rory replaces the sneakers for Lily, like she does it for her. Hot and totally girly moment here. As she's like rubbing her hand up Lily's socks, we get this beautiful shot of Rory's pink nails. By the way, super unconventional on a lesbian or not conventional. on a lesbian just as an FYI. Okay, like you need at least your left hand with no nails. I mean this one's for me. Let me just get it all out. But Aleta: Enjoy. Lucy: I'm just gonna enjoy it. But anyway, but I I want them for me right now. I'm like, I want those pink nails. They're really fucking cute. Okay, so that was my girly moment. I did also want to note there was a scene when Lily was like leaving after Aurora. and she's like just so cute in her cheerleader outfit. Like, Lily's body type is one of my favorite body types on women. she's not super, super tiny. She's healthy and Aleta: Mm. Lucy: she looks so gorgeous to me. I feel this way about Trinity too. Trinity is a straight actress. so a lot of you might have seen her in some verticals. I don't think you'll literally seen her yet, but I love her. And I just I love her because you can kind of see yourself in her, right? You know what I mean? Aleta: Mm mm. Lucy: So, anyway. Aleta: Yeah, I've only watched straight ones Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: I've only watched straight ones if our boys are in them. When the other girls leave the locker room, Sarah goes through Lily's locker, looking for dirt. She is thrilled to find a leather bound sketchbook. Of course they win the championship, and Aurora tells the cheering crowd that it wouldn't have happened without Lily Stone. At their moment of triumph, Sarah leans over and whispers to Lily that her drawings are already in the rector's office. Lucy: Mm. I loved the cheerleading performance scene and my gosh, when I was watching this, you know who else Roy reminds me of here? Fucking Tori Vega from Zodiac Academy. Like I don't know what it was and and and I realize it's because you haven't made it that far in the series, but there's some books coming up. if you ever get to them. I'm never gonna read something. Aleta: Am I ever gonna reach the really spicy parts? Lucy: Whatever. You want you read the cabin scene in the prequel. That is so spicy. Yeah, my god, stop. I'm not gonna go through the details of this. But anyway, Aleta: Anyway. Lucy: when she gets to Zodiac Academy, there is a scene with Tori Vega that reminded me so much of this part and like her dark hair. And I was like, this is she's she's channeling Tori Vega right now. Super awesome. So for any Zodiac Academy fans out there, if you know, you know. Aleta: Lily runs off to get her sketchbook back, but Aurora has beaten her there. Lucy: I didn't get that part. Like how did she make it there first and almo almost fully dressed? And Lily is still in her cheerleader uniform. I didn't get it. Aleta: Yeah. Yeah, 'cause she was ch she had a different skirt on. She had like a pencil mini skirt and a blazer. Yeah. Just a blazer. Lucy: Just a blazer. Just a blazer. Aleta: And she's looked at the sketchbook full of drawings of naked women. Aurora tells her that she's so talented, and the drawings speak for themselves about what she really likes. Lily begs her not to tell anyone. Aurora says she won't if Lily draws her. And she unbuttons her blazer. Lily says she will do it on one condition. that Aurora finally leaves her alone. She just wants to study. as she drops her blazer, Aurora agrees. Lucy: If that's what you really want. Aleta: Lots of heavy eye contact here as Lily draws the topless Aurora, and we see the security camera in the corner. Lucy: the scene. So another little scene in a queer vertical, possibly inspired by Titanic. There is a blushing comment Roy makes, like, you're blushing, which is very Titanic too. so hmm, we've seen that in Tutoring My Rebel Boy. It's sensual, lots of tension. And once again, I get my close-up shots. We talked a lot about that in in his cold eyes. This is definitely courtesy of my drama. I see it now. This is a my drama thing. I like almost anything they put out anyway. And this might be one of the reasons why. Aleta: as they go to leave, the Queen is coming down the hall. They hide in a cupboard and Lily kisses Aurora. Lily kisses Aurora? Lucy: Yep. When you wrote Aurora Kisses Lily, I was like, No, no, no, no, no. Cause I had just watched it. so Rory in the closet is making fun of Lily, Aleta: Mm. Lucy: telling her, you're so funny when you're nervous. And she starts to say to Lily, Well, you can shut me up and she doesn't get to finish Because the lily just goes for it and she just shoves her lips on Rory's in a surprise move. And I was thinking, Mm, yummy kisses for Lucy's tummy, which makes no fucking sense. But I had written it down. I was like, yummy, yummy kisses for Lucy's tummy. And was like, it's not even hot. Like it's just like the dumbest fucking thing I could have written. But they are really yummy kisses. I'm making her go red again. But for real. I don't know. It just felt right. Aleta: Just making me laugh. Lucy: I know. my god. Okay. Anyway. Aleta: Alrighty. Lucy: shit. Here we go. See, it's midnight. It's late. And then I say something dumb. Or I write something dumb and she says it. Aleta: We need to record early. Lucy: I know we need to. Aleta: So I get less ridiculous. Okay. Lucy: but I think people like the ridiculous. It's okay sometimes. Or it's okay all the time. Okay. Aleta: Make me laugh. Lucy: We'll see if this gets quoted back. We'll know how many of our friends actually listen to it because they'll quote that shit back. They'll be like yummy yummy kisses, Lucy, you know what I Yummy yummy kisses for your tummy. So if anyone quotes it, we'll know. We'll know. Anywho. Aleta: My eyes are watering besties Alright The Queen is about to discover them when Aurora pops out of the cupboard and tells her mom that she's there because she misses her and she wants to hug her. But the Ice Queen, Margaret, tells her that affection is a weakness that monarchs cannot afford, and dismisses her. Aurora says after you, leaving the coast clear for Lily to escape. In a voiceover, Lily says that she thought Aurora was mean because she has everything. In reality, it's because she has nothing, not even her mother's love. Lucy: And that was the moment I was gonna point out earlier when I was like, We're gonna figure out why she's the way that she is. Lily learns why. Aleta: Her mother's one of those Lucy: A situation. Aleta: euphemisms that Greg was talking about. Lucy: There you go. Yeah, the one I learned about later. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: Ha ha ha ha Aleta: They leave and the door locks behind them, but Aurora comes back to let her out. She says she will leave Lily alone as promised, and takes the drawing with her. The next day the Queen looks through the security footage and sees everything. And I think she says something there about about how she's gonna deal with her, doesn't she? Lucy: I think so, yeah. Aleta: Dominic meets Lily at her locker and tells her that he's going on a six months tour of the country to support the monarchy, and Lily is going with him. Lily says she's gonna stay and study. But here comes the evil queen and tells her that she will be Lucy: Ha ha ha ha. Aleta: going on tour because she's been expelled. The queen tells her that winning the championship doesn't give her the right to break into the office and Do whatever it is you think you did. When Aurora confronts her mother, her mother shoves her down and says that Aurora may not care about the monarchy or her brother, but maybe she'll care about that orphan's future. That's all you ever do, you ruin everything. Aurora says that Lily won't marry Dominic, but her mother tells her that she has no other choice. After their little stunt, her scholarship is revoked. All caps in red, why are the parents always evil? Lucy: I know, Aleta: Margaret tells Aurora to mind her place, and Aurora reminds her that she has a veto. She says that her father told her to save it for something that actually matters. The next scene, it's nighttime. Aurora is swimming in a really gorgeous indoor pool. That was beautiful. I want to swim in that pool. Lucy: Mm. Yeah. Me too. Aleta: And Lily come Lucy: Mm-mm. Aleta: and Lily comes in. You want to swim in that pool with Aurora? Lucy: Yep. Aleta: Aurora when Aurora accuses her of packing for the trip with Dominic. Lily takes her hand and tells her that she will never marry someone that she doesn't love. And that's why she's going back to the boarding school. She tells Aurora, it's just weird. What scared me isn't losing my future. It's never seeing you again. Even if this was all a game to you, I wish it didn't have to end. Lucy: It stopped being a game the moment you became the only person in this world that I actually feel at peace with. Aleta: And they kiss. And spiciness ensues. Lily takes off her dress and leads Aurora into the hot tub. Some cute details here. Aurora's in a black swimsuit and the pure Lily is in a white bra and panties. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: And I like the blue light there as well. Lily says, I want you to teach me how to make love. She admits Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: that she's a virgin. And Aurora says, Lucy: So what? Trust me. I know how to please a girl. Tasha's gonna like that one. I tried to say it sensually, I don't know how it came out. Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: Maybe I should try it again. I know how to please a girl. it did not come out as good as the first time. Anyway, we'll just leave it at that. Aleta: Clip that for promo. Lucy: Right? And put Tosh Fortosh. When's her birthday? It's in December. Fortosh. Aleta: There's a beautiful shot here as Aurora's pulling off Lily's panties and she lays back. Lucy: Okay, guys, so the pool boom boom scene. Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: This is the GL Spice I want to see. Me, Lucy. I don't know about anyone else, but me personally, girl love creators, please take freaking notes. You don't have to be super dirty. I mean, we won't say no. This wasn't. It was sensual and naughty and intimate, and I loved it. And To me currently, this is and I think we said it earlier, this is the best GL boom boom I've seen so far. And I just thought the whole time, God, I just want to edit this fucking vertical so bad. Ugh so good. Aleta: Yeah, it was beautiful. Lucy: Very beautifully done. Mm-hmm. Aleta: Afterwards Lily tells Aurora, I'll never forget the pleasure you gave me. Lucy: That was the beginning. Aleta: Aurora hands her back her b the crest for her blazer, that Margaret had torn off earlier. Lily asks why she didn't tell her earlier? Lucy: I didn't want you to choose me out of obligation. this is an afterglow scene from their glory in the pool Aleta: Mm. Lucy: or the hot tub or whatever. honestly and and and this is some raw truth, I guess. it's actually eerily accurate to how it can be with two women. So they are sitting down across from each other, their legs are wrapped up. in each other's. it was very familiar and a like very familiar to me and kind of a cozy reminder of how amazing it is to be with women if you like women, which I like women too. And I'm like, hmm, that is nice. And I'll just leave it at that. I Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Lucy: want to say so much, but I'm just like I I it is different, right? Because in the BLs, I'm like, they're so hard. hot and blah blah blah blah blah and this is the best but in BL's besties I am not a man I cannot relate to Miles and Hunter and what they're going through. I mean I can relate somewhat right like maybe I had that story in a straight relationship or in a lesbian relationship right because I'm pansexual Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: but I am not a man being with another man. And so when I watch the BLs, I'm just appreciating the romance. And I'm not inserting myself in any of those characters. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: And I I think that's where I was a little worried is I'm completely have inserted myself into this vertical. Like, I want Rory. Please. Hello, Rory. Can Aleta: Mm. Lucy: I be your Lily? You know what I mean? And so and there's things that have happened in this vertical, like this afterglow scene. that I have experienced myself. And so I'm like So it's so weird because when you and I talk straight until they kiss me and Water Boy and Stable Boy, it's like, they're so hot and they're so cute and da la la la. But when I talk about this, I actually feel really vulnerable. So I will say that. I feel really vulnerable. I feel like, ooh, am I crossing a line? You know, in in the way I'm speaking about the actress who plays Rory and talking about how beautiful she is, am I crossing a line? I know realistically and logically I'm not, because I talk about all of our amazing boys and how handsome they are, right? Aleta: Mm. Lucy: But I like the actress who plays Rory in a different way than I like Greg Duffy, right? Or or Sky Kawhi. Right? And so I am looking at the actress who plays Rory and I'm like, if you came up to me and were like, hey baby, I would be like, Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: Yes, ma'am. You know what I mean? Whatever you need. And Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy: you know, if Greg Duffy or Sky Kawhi or Declan Clifford were coming up, I'd be like, You guys are the best, I'm so obsessed with you. And I would high five them. Like, I would not be like, Hey baby. That's just me personally. I'm sure there are women out there who would hey baby. But just not me with those exact BL boys. They're you know. are you gonna say? You're gonna say something. Shit, you Aleta: I'm not gonna say anything. I mean Lucy: were about to. Aleta: I was not. I I you know Lucy: shit, okay. Aleta: I yeah, I I I guess I it I can't relate 'cause I don't like women in that way. So, you know, that's Lucy: Right. Well and I think if I was watching a straight vertical I'd probably feel a little vulnerable too, right? Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: Like I think it would be different for me talking about Evan Adams because I would be Aleta: I don't know, maybe I'm just so old. I don't I'm not self-inserting myself in any of these. Lucy: Really? And I don't in obviously the boy loves. There's nothing to insert yourself into. You know what I mean? But like Aleta: No, exactly. Lucy: in the girl loves, this is the first one. Aleta: Just look at how pretty they are. Lucy: They are yeah, they're so pretty. I definitely inserted myself into the Kalen role in Tom Boy. I definitely inserted myself into this one. Like, my God. But I didn't I don't insert myself into all girl loves, surprisingly. It just depend I think it depends on how much I like it. Aleta: Well, fair. Lucy: And then how much I like some of the actresses, yeah. And then I'm like, but I wanna be with that actress and that character. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: God, this is derails. Okay, go ahead, sorry. Aleta: Yeah, I don't know whether any of that's going in. Lucy: I know this sucks. Like this is a disaster for me as the editor. Aleta: Ha ha Lucy: Alright. Go ahead. Aleta: In the next scene, Dominic and Sarah meet up. Sarah wants to know why everyone is so obsessed with that nun. Dominic tells her that people are not happy with the monarchy since his father died, so the moment he marries some poor orphan, he will win over the public. That's the whole game. Sarah says she doesn't get why she should help him. Aurora ditched her, and he's only interested in her as a mistress. Dominic tells her, silly girl, a king's mistress gets more than a wife ever will. So help me become king faster. Good girl. As Sarah goes down. Lucy: Ha ha. Aleta: The next day in study hall, when Lily gets up for something, Sarah switches her cup. Dominic shows up and says they need to talk. Lily is drinking from the cup and starts to get woozy. Again, watch your drinks, people. Dominic Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: locks the door and Lily hallucinates that he is Aurora. And Sarah films them kissing. Aurora finds her past out and gets back gets her back to the dorm. Lucy: I skipped through these episodes. It's like episode fifty three to fifty seven, I think. I know it happens later, but it's still scary, like this whole scene, very triggering, I think, for a lot of women. when Rory finds her, it's pretty heartbreaking. I'm not gonna lay out exactly how Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: Lily looked when she found her, but it was I Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: could see that being so triggering for some women. I was just like, Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: Fuuck. But yeah. Aleta: When Lily comes to, Aurora asks what she remembers. When Lily tells her, she says, Maybe it's not worth fighting with your brother over this. And Aurora replies. Lucy: Not worth it, I'd burn the whole world down for you. Starting with my brother. Okay, I did not deliver it the way Rory delivered that. But Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy: the way she delivered this line, like besties, I quivered. Okay? There was like a brain tingle. And it was not when she delivered starting with my brother. And it was not when she said, Not worth it. Yeah, I'm doing quotations here. quotations. I'm quot doing finger buddy quotes in my fingers, and Alita's bright red. It's gonna be such a situation to edit this whole fucking podcast, but whatever. And I have to leave this in because Alita is bright red, and that is the best podcast content we could ask for. Aleta: Brain tingle besties. Lucy: Brain tingle? I did. I said it was a total brain tingle and I'm doing quotation marks. It was, it Aleta: yeah. Lucy: tickled my brain the way she said I'd burn down the whole world for you. She didn't even say it like that. I'd burn the whole world down for you. And it was so I mean it wasn't like viscerally passionate, but like the way she delivered it. And I was just like, Yes. Hot, hot, hot. Okay. Yes. Aleta: As they begin to kiss. Lucy: And was gonna say too, I usually like more aggressive kisses in my verticals as an FYI. But I am very into Rory and Lily's gentle kisses. They do sweet and gentle kisses in this one. Cause just Rory's taking care of her girl. And I like it. It's good shit. Okay. Aleta: Clive Morris bursts into the dorm room. Seriously, very lax in this boarding school. Middle aged men Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: just wandering into girls' rooms, like He drags Aurora out and tells him her that their wedding is coming up and he will teach her obedience. And I have all caps here. Ick so much ick. Lucy: Big ick. Aleta: Aurora slaps him and tells him to get used to the fact that his future wife loves another woman, and everybody's gonna find out. Dominic shows up and Aurora knees him. That's for Lily, asshole. Good job. Lucy: Yes. Aleta: Dominic really shows his true colors completely here, telling Aurora that Alily is exactly who he needs so that he can see Aurora's face every day that she chooses him over Aurora. Then he will have everything and Aurora will have nothing. True sibling love, and if Aurora doesn't back off, he'll destroy Lily. Lucy: I hate this part because Rory the whole time is trying to be so strong and she's has to stand up to two crappy men, like really bad men. And I mean eventually she sort of loses and it sucks. But I was really Aleta: Mm. Yeah. Lucy: proud of her for fighting as long as she could. Aleta: At practice, Sarah once again switches Lily's drink. After being drugged once, you would think that she would keep a better eye on her beverages at all times. Lucy: Right. Aleta: When Aurora arrives she tells Lily that they no longer need her and kisses Sarah right in front of her. Back at the dorm, Lily is crying in her bunk when Aurora comes in and finds Lily's drawings in the trash. Rory tells Lily to forget her, and when she leaves, Lily finds the drawing that Aurora had taken away in the trash with the rest. Lily feels sick. In the next scene we see Lily coming out of the ladies' room, clearly having thrown up. Sarah is waiting and tells her that as much as she hates her, girls are supposed to help each other in situations like this. Lily says she probably just has food poisoning, and with an evil look on her face, Sarah says Let's find out. She takes her to have an ultrasound. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: My comment here. I mean why bother to pee on a stick when you can just jump straight to the ultrasound Lucy: Right? Aleta: As if as if it would be showing on the ultrasound that fast really, but anyway. Lucy: Exactly. Aleta: And the doctor tells her that she's pregnant. Lucy: Finger quotes. Aleta: As they leave the doctor's office, Dominic shows up and he's all excited about the pregnancy. But Lily slaps him. Good girl. Haha He says Lucy: Mm-hmm. And it's good when Alita says good girl. Did you did you hear that guys? She said good girl and it sounded really good. Can you say good girl in French, please? Because Markin really wanted you to speak French and you promised to speak French and you didn't speak French for this one line. Aleta: So it really does it's not it really doesn't translate. Like it just sounds like you're like Lucy: Say it and then I'll say it after you. Aleta: But if you say bun fee, it's just like like bun. Lucy: Bun fee, is that it? Bun fee. Bun fee. So it's not Aleta: fee. But that's just like, you know, it's not there's no there's no sexy implications. As I understand it. Lucy: So I can't be like Bonfi Alita. Like does that sound good? Bonfi Alita. Right? Like good girl Alita. Right? No? Okay. I tried. Tried guys. We Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Lucy: got her to speak a little French. Aleta: Silia qui equit qui parle français. It's a very problem. Lucy me demands toujours to party on France. Lucy: SEMO! That was so hot, my god. Aleta: I just gave Lucy a birthday present, guys, so it's a little early. Lucy: I quivered That was a brain tingle. Aleta: It r really, really wasn't Lucy: You know, I promised I don't know what the fuck she said, but it sounded hot. And what's funny Okay, Zaynab, you Aleta: Zinab can translate for you. Lucy: you translate for me. if Zainab makes it through this podcast because there's a lot of sh lot of shit in here. She might be like Aleta: This might be a little spicy. Lucy: I know, she might be like, I don't wanna know this about Lucy. Like I still Aleta: True. Lucy: Zaynab's my baby, so my god, we gotta keep going. Okay, all right. Aleta: Dominic says, if it was against her will, then why was she begging him not to stop? She accuses him of drugging her, and he says that he would never do that. It's beneath a king. He shows her the video, claiming that someone sent it to him, and they are behind all of this. He promises to find out who did it and destroy them. Once again he proposes, telling her that their child deserves a real family. Lucy: This entire thing is just so fucked up. Like, one of the worst possible things you could do to a woman, like, the mind fuckery. Aleta: The next scene is back in Margaret's office. She's looking at wedding dress designs. And when Lily arrives, the seamstress starts taking her measurements immediately. Margaret tells Lily that she's already approved the design. You get no choice. Lily tells her that she doesn't love Dominic and that she doesn't need anything from their family and hands back the ring. But Margaret says that they won't drag her to the altar. that the child will belong to the crown, with or without her. There's a there's a really as Lily's leaving, there's a a really good scene here where Lily's coming down the stairs and Aurora's coming up and as they pass Lily daydreams imagines them kissing. But Aurora just carries on up the stairs and Dominic appears and tells her not to look over there. Lucy: song that starts playing in this scene, the way it was shot, the way Roy looks at Lily. She gives her like a sweet smirk. I loved that little kissing fantasy scene. It was good. Aleta: There's a little scene with Dominic congratulating Sarah on her job with the doctor, and when she asks what will happen when Lily discovers the truth, he says it will be too late and the marriage contract doesn't permit divorce. Then it's a double wedding. Aurora is in a gown and veil, and her mother tells her she looks like a real Crownwell princess. Aurora looks up as Lily comes down the stairs also in a wedding gown. Margaret tells them not to keep their grooms waiting, and leaves the room. Lucy: The scene disgusted me just like a little, I think because Aleta: Mm. Lucy: of the performance of it. Like like the mother did this obviously to make this big performance Aleta: yeah. Lucy: and fuck with the girls, right? Aleta: Mm. Lucy: but both of the ladies do look beautiful. It's a nice little symbol that they should be marrying each other, you know. Aleta: Lily tells Aurora that she needs to know her to know that she's only doing it for the baby. Aurora is back to her ice princess routine. Lucy: Don't be so dramatic. I was only playing with you and the game is over. I wish you happiness with my brother. Aleta: Lily says Really, then why are you crying? And what if none of this matters to me without you? I love you. Tell me you feel the same. And Aurora admits that of course she does, and she stopped playing a long time ago. she tells Lily that she only agreed to marry Clive for her. As they run off, Dominic comes after them, but his mother stops him, telling him he's not worth it, they're both hopeless. Lucy: I also love the scene. The music is epic as they run away, fleeing for their lives. Aleta: The next day at school, Dominic and Sarah are canoodling when Aurora Lucy: Hmm. Aleta: and Lily come in. Aurora tells him that Lily is protected by her royal rights, and they know there's no baby. Dominic admits that they didn't actually have sex. It was all staged. Lily's recording him on her phone, and Aurora tells him that they will use it if they don't back off of her and Lily. Lucy: thank God. I was actually legit scared when I first watched it that she had been really violated. So I was happy Aleta: Mm. Lucy: at the end where he admitted that it was staged, nothing had really happened. it made me happier with the vertical in the end. I think if she had actually been violated, I don't know if I would have loved it as much. Aleta: Yeah, I mean all the way through you think that she has been. I mean Lucy: Right. And I I did feel a lot of relief at the end. I like, thank God. Aleta: And Aurora says Lucy: I feel sorry for you, brother. You'll never know what love is. It's not a curse of blood. It's who you choose to be. Aleta: And the vertical ends on a kiss. Lucy: La la la la people clap too. There's clapping. They clap as they guess. Yep, there's applause. Aleta: So Ooh. that's right, yeah. Cause that always happens in real life. Lucy: Yeah. Aleta: So, Lucy, we've had a lot of your thoughts. Have you got any closing thoughts? Probably lots. Lucy: god, closing thoughts. Yeah, I guess so. I guess I'll go quick. I'll try to go quick. Yes, I already said it's pretty much my favorite girl vertical, girl love vertical. It still is. we'll see if anything gets bumped off of it. I loved the lead actresses. I did like the actress who played Sarah. I thought she was she did a really good job. Aleta: She was really good, yeah. She just was playing a horrible person. Lucy: She did. She played a horrible person. I didn't mind the story. I, this is what I was gonna talk about. So I like had a moment where because I've been speaking to certain people, and so certain people were like, this is this is not my jam. I really don't like this vertical. And then like me and another fan were like, We both love it. So what's going on? And so this evening, before we recorded, I tried to like gather some data and I was like, Well Maybe it's because the this specific group like identifies this way and they're the ones who don't like it. And then this specific group identifies this other way and they do like it. And so I gathered some other friends and I was like, Can you guys watch this? And and and they fit each group, right? And it just fucked up my everything because yeah, one person was like, yeah, I hate it. And I was like, that that that validates my thoughts and then I was banking on this last person and I was like, they're gonna totally be on my side and they didn't like it. And so the moral of the story is that these verticals can be really triggering and for a lot of people. And the thing is though that we've all noticed because we've been in this fandom for almost a year, besties. Aleta: my god. Lucy: I know. And we're gonna have to do something really special and I have some ideas, but Aleta: Three weeks and it's a year. Lucy: Three weeks. We're gonna have we're gonna have to talk after this. yes, these verticals, sometimes they're not written with care, right? Sometimes they're not filmed with care, sometimes they're not acted with care. There is all sorts of Issues that they have that it that it's not a secret. We all know that. We complain about it, we talk about it, we whatever. People try to get better with it. We came to the conclusion, you know, more so one of our friends, but she is correct, that certain things just trigger people differently, right? So I think there were things in this vertical that were quite upsetting for people that I know. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: And for me, I handled it like a boss. Like I fucking loved it. I loved all of it. Nothing was truly upsetting except for the potential violation scene that turned out to not be fully violated. So I was like, okay, I can handle that. but there are some verticals out there that I cannot stand. And that's not a whole lot. It's a very small list, but the very few that I cannot stand, people there's some people who love So Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: It's just super interesting what kind of triggers folks. but overall, guys, I think I would give this like even though it's my favorite GL, I wouldn't give it a ten out of ten. I would probably give it like a seven out of ten. And the seven is really based off of the actresses. They're wonderful. I loved the way they loved each other, I love the way they delivered their lines. I will be rewatching this one a lot. I think it's so good, and I hope I get to see the actress who plays Rory in more. You know? Maybe we shall see. Yeah. What did you think? Aleta: Mm. Maybe. Yeah. Well, the first time through I was not very positive about it, if you recall. I did enjoy it more on the second viewing and just kind of had to leave behind some of those sort of very superficial things that were bothering me about it. and I enjoyed it a lot more. I think All of the actors were really good, honestly. I mean, even even as much as we don't like the Queen and Sarah, they were they did a good job. Just don't Lucy: Yeah. Aleta: like the characters. But yeah, it was good. There were some there were some beautiful moments in it and yeah, I liked it a lot more the second time around, so that's good. Lucy: You know, I didn't talk about this. I have a serious soft spot for the Ukrainian accents. I don't think I brought that up. But and I and I don't know how everyone else feels about it, but for me, I think it's hot. Like it's always hot. Like I love my drama because they have a lot of really amazing Ukrainian actors on there and shows. Like, we haven't recapped these yet, besties, but there's Wicked Game and Obsessed With You, and that stars Rustlin. And I cannot pronounce his name. We say Hlib because his name is very long and I cannot pronounce his name. But they are epic together and I cannot wait to eventually recap those. I think we're gonna have to see how many new ones we get, you know, throughout the end of the year. But I apologize if I interrupted you. Sorry, Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: my lady. Aleta: No, no, no. That's that's all good. I yeah. That's those are my thoughts. All right. Lucy: Okay, I got in right before she ended. take us out, Alita. Take us out. Aleta: Well, besties, thank you for joining us for another slightly unhinged recap episode. we'll see how much of the shenanigans end up in the podcast. I'm hoping that quite a lot of that gets cut, frankly. Just just know that whatever Lucy: She might be right. Some of it needs to Aleta: you hear it was probably a lot worse. Lucy: Yep. Darn Tootin'. Aleta: See you next time. Bye besties. Lucy: Bye besties.